Syracuse Football Spring Game Recap: The Dark Side

OK, let's say this right off the top so I don't have to repeat myself.

Take a lot of what is written below with a grain of salt.

AP/2012

The spring game is what it is. This team is not playing to close with a full roster due to injuries, etc. There is a lot of situational work, the clock is on running time, and obviously the team is split up.

It's not that we can't make certain observations about the spring game. We can.

But think of these observations in digital pencil, not ink.

*All that said above we had a 9-0 game and all the points came off defensive scores? Aye carumba.

“I can only talk about one side,” said Doug Marrone, who called the plays on offense for "Team Moore" “Obviously we took a lot of shots (downfield). We made some plays at times. It wasn’t from a lack of not taking enough shots down the field.”

“Obviously we’re disappointed that we didn’t score. There’s a lot of factors involved. Some of the situational stuff (in a scrimmage) is different than what it’s really going to be. But excuses aside, we wish we could have scored.” said QB Ryan Nassib after this one.

Now, to be fair, two offensive drives were stalled due to a missed field goal (which we will get to below) and there were a number of offensive players missing due to injury, including two wide receivers that can stretch the field in Alec Lemon and Jarrod West. Nassib's blind side LT, Justin Pugh, was out and the reps were divided up to include Charlie Loeb and John Kinder at QB, who are clearly behind Nassib in many ways. It was also a pretty limited menu of options they were choosing from as to not disclose some of the new wrinkles being installed on offense.

That said, Doug Marrone has talked often as of late about the need to add big plays to the offensive attack.

It wasn't a total loss with Marcus Sales catching two passes of 30 plus yards and Jeremiah Kobena hauling in a 48-yarder. Marrone noted above that is wasn't for a lack of taking shots.

I could go on here, but it was the spring game. Let's not get too crazy.

But this spring game showed there is still a lot of work to be done under the hood on the offense before it can take a step forward.

*The big gains could be counted on one hand and the running game was not a factor at all.

Smith has really bulked up and his upside looks promising, but he didn't get a chance to show we what he could do in this game. A little birdie tells me Gulley had big time fumble issues during spring ball as well. Ashton Broyld lined up at RB a bunch (and did warmups with them pregame) but that is a gadget and is much more effective right now when he is in space and can create.

*The offensive line has two major holes to fill on the right side with the departure of Michael Hay and Andrew Tiller and was also missing LT Justin Pugh in this game due to an upper body injury .

That said, they got pushed around all day. I mean, dominated by the defensive line. First and second team defense. The issue of giving Ryan Nassib sufficient time to run this offense remains.

*The back up QB situation is a concern. Charlie Loeb has a pretty good arm but looks uncomfortable in the pocket and he has accuracy issues to say the least and tends to float the ball. He has never taken advantage of these situations to show he can push Nassib. Kinder is aggressive when given the chance, but does not have command of the pocket or the offense yet. Terrel Hunt blew a chance to compete for a back up spot by being suspended for spring ball due to a shoplifting charge.

Ashton Broyld is a talent here and will be given an opportunity to line up behind center in the fall, but that will be on limited opportunities as he is still obviously a little raw.

*For a game with very limited special teams (no kickoff returns or punt returns), the special teams did not grade out well in the field goal department.

Ryan Lichtenstein missed a 31 and 28 yard field goal. The 31-yarder he doinked off the upright. The 28-yarder he just missed wide right. Ross Krautman's only appearance was to kick an extra point after Sharpe's fumble return TD.

John Berry/The Post Standard 2012

I asked Doug Marrone about the issues with the kicking game. He explained that part of the issue is technical and added something about special teams overall, which remember, Marrone is now coaching.

"It is a concern because we missed a couple. Ross (Krautman) we have been concentrating with him on the left hash, that is where he has had some difficulty. Coach Anselmo has done a good job, we have worked with him quite a bit. Left hash last year, a lot of times the placement was too close to the football. I think Ross has done a nice job making sure it is wider now so those kicks are going to be easier for us. He feels more comfortable out there. Basically, with special teams, it is very difficult to get accomplished today with two separate sidelines most of the coaches are coaching. You don't really have anyone assigned to the special teams. Basically, it was memorization from the players.

Our goal going into preseason is to have 6-8 core special teams players. Any successful special teams outfit you see, whether it be college or the NFL, are going to have those 6- core players that can do it and allow you to change your game plan each week because that is all those players are concentrating on is a primary focus."

*Things were sloppy early on. Four of the first six plays had flags. A wide receiver caught one pass in the first half. One.

And what was up with starting the game early? Did they figure they had everyone there that would be there and just said the hell with it, let's start?